BRONX, NY – On October 23, Calvary Hospital hosted its 7th annual Pastoral Care Day for nearly 100 spiritual care providers, nurses, social workers and other health care professionals from throughout the greater New York area. The theme of this year’s event was “Prophetic Voice.” Attendees earned four continuing education credits.

Each speaker spoke about end-of-life practices as they related to their faith traditions. For example: 1) Rabbi Zuckerman spoke about the concept of a prophet in Judaism; 2) Dr. Curry explored how chaplains and clinicians need to address self-care and self-healing to avoid compassion fatigue; 3) Rev. Hernquist spoke about what it means to pastor to those in his congregation and help them prepare for death; 4) Mr. Ghosthorse gave a wide overview of Native American spirituality from his heritage as a member of the Lakota nation; and 5) Dr. Al-Silwi focused on the Muslim community in New York, Muslim families, and Islamic traditions and beliefs about the terminally ill.

Calvary Hospital is the nation’s only fully accredited acute care specialty hospital devoted exclusively to providing palliative care to adult advanced cancer patients. A 225-bed facility with locations in the Bronx and Brooklyn, Calvary is the model for the relief of cancer pain and symptoms for more than a century. More than 5,600 patients are cared for annually by Calvary’s inpatient, outpatient, homecare, hospice, nursing home hospice, and wound care services. To learn more or sign up for the e-newsletter, Calvary Life, please go to www.calvaryhospital.org.

Not pictured are the two other speakers at Calvary’s event: Dr. Hamud Al-Silwi, Muslim American Society of Upper New York and Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Host of “First Voices Indigenous New York,” Lakota Nation.